| Kansas Whitetail Rut Dates | | | | protein is to use the spincast feeder and ensuring the |
| Quality whitetail deer management has not been | | | | pellets are contained or delivered into a trough or |
| around for very long, but lately has taken off | | | | feed tube, which keeps the pellets off the ground |
| throughout the country. Areas that come to mind | | | | and from being destroyed by moisture. |
| include Florida, Kansas, Iowa, the meca of bow | | | | Creating a housing (bucket) around your timer |
| hunting the northeast and of course Texas. Deer | | | | connected to a tube works well for this. Eliminating |
| management has been around since the beginning | | | | untargeted animals is also encouraged as there is no |
| since anytime an animal is harvested, its impact will be | | | | need to supplement the diets of raccoons or feral |
| reflected in the health of the herd. With recent | | | | hogs. Feed pens and varmint guards are always a |
| introduction of "quality" to the program, one wonders | | | | must. There are hundreds of different types of |
| what does that mean? The hunting community now | | | | protein feeders out there. These are used solely for |
| realizes the power we possess while in the field. And, | | | | supplemental feeding and not normally hunted over. |
| how we help or hurt the herd is determined every | | | | Usually placed in sanctuary type locations. |
| time we step into the woods. Quality deer | | | | They can be quite large and require auger type |
| management has as many variables as there are fish | | | | loading to be efficient. Loading 4000 pounds one bag |
| in the sea. I will discuss supplemental feeding using | | | | at a time can be very taxing and costly. Buying bulk |
| feeders in this article. | | | | is always considerably cheaper. Protein pellets come in |
| I hunt in Texas under a state sanctioned MLDP | | | | many different types. I recommend shopping for an |
| program (Managed Land Deer Permits). The state | | | | affordable 16%-20% brand containing extra minerals |
| gives us extra privileges with the expectations we | | | | to help with antler growth. Some are water repellant |
| will conduct ourselves with the health of the herd in | | | | which is beneficial if you chose to dispense on the |
| mind first. We have fun with the end result in mind. | | | | ground. Kansas Whitetail Rut Dates |
| Our ranch, as with most in Texas, utilize deer feeders | | | | Protein pellets will tend to clog in spincast feeders |
| to help accomplish that goal. | | | | due to moisture swelling the pellets, however, this is |
| During deer season we will feed a corn/protein mix. | | | | not detrimental if you use a feeder helper as you can |
| The corn provides a strong attractant so we can | | | | simply unlatch the feeder helper and remove any |
| make solid judgments on the right deer to remove | | | | obstruction or clog. If you chose to spincast your |
| based on predetermined criteria. The corn also | | | | protein pellets, you might consider feeding after dark. |
| provides a carbohydrate replacement which is crucial | | | | Deer are nocturnal by nature and this helps ensure |
| in order for bucks to maintain a healthy physiological | | | | the protein is eaten promptly and not left to be |
| being while they push themselves during the | | | | ruined by the elements. I believe this also helps the |
| demands of the rut. Hopefully, the deer go into the | | | | whitetail trophy bucks to claim this as his territory, |
| spring season in decent shape. The better shape | | | | which hopefully could prove fatal if you done your |
| they are in coming out of winter, the larger the | | | | part at the range. |
| antlers will be the next season. Once spring is upon | | | | Of course, there are many different mediums to use |
| us, it is time to start feeding protein. Kansas Whitetail | | | | trying to achieve a healthy deer herd such as food |
| Rut Dates | | | | plots, prescribed burns, removing excessive cedars |
| I convert all my spincast feeders to free flow gravity | | | | and mesquite, and adequate harvesting of the deer. |
| tubes by removing the timer mechanisms and | | | | A game biologist is always key for those eager to |
| installing the gravity tubes. A product call a deer | | | | hear his/her opinion and advise. |
| feeder helper makes this a breeze, taking only | | | | I hope you find this information useful and |
| minutes to convert. The optimal way of feeding | | | | informative. |